Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. This marks the first time a second baseman has been drafted with the top overall selection.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Jordan Shusterman, Bazzana was ranked as the top player available in the 2024 draft class.
Bazzana’s hitting prowess is highlighted by his exceptional bat speed and understanding of pitch selection, enabling him to make effective swing adjustments and optimize his offensive potential despite his smaller stature. In his junior year, Bazzana hit 28 home runs, following a combined 17 homers over his first two seasons with the Beavers. His disciplined approach at the plate resulted in walking roughly twice as often as he struck out.
During his junior season, Bazzana batted .407 (eighth in the nation) with a 1.479 OPS, 28 home runs, 66 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. The Sydney, Australia native set Oregon State records for home runs in a single season (28) and career home runs (45). Additionally, he is the Beavers’ all-time leader in hits, with 251.
Defensively, Bazzana’s arm strength suggests a likely future at second base, though his range and speed — evidenced by 66 stolen bases in college — might allow for a transition to the outfield. Shusterman notes that his speed could play a significant role in his professional career, despite fluctuating stolen base totals during his college tenure (14, 36, and 16 over three seasons).
Bazzana’s offensive capabilities were a primary factor in his selection. He has prior experience with a wood bat, having played in the West Coast League in 2021, where he won MVP honors with a .429 average, 1.064 OPS, 18 doubles, and 27 RBI.
The Guardians’ selection of Bazzana at No. 1 is the organization’s highest draft pick since Paul Shuey was picked No. 2 overall in 1992. Bazzana is the second Oregon State player to be drafted first overall, following Adley Rutschman by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019. He is also the first Beavers star drafted by the Guardians since Steven Kwan, a 2024 All-Star starter, was selected as a fifth-rounder in 2018.
